A Retired Old Man and an Ordinary Man Adrift on Fate's Tides

Harry and the other two rushed out of the underground Chamber of Secrets, ran down the long corridor, and reached the Slytherin Common Room. Very cleverly, they threw on the Cloak of Invisibility and hid beside the common room entrance.

With no one there to open the door for them, waiting here for someone to come or go and seizing the chance to rush out was their best option.

It was already late at night. The Slytherin Common Room was quiet, with only the crackling fire in the hearth and the sounds of creatures swimming through the lake beyond the windows.

Seeing that no one had come after them yet, they began discussing what to do next.

"Listen, Lockhart has the Headmaster's authority now, remember?"

Hermione looked exceedingly serious. "That means that inside the castle, portraits and statues will report any trace of us to him. And he can Apparate. He'll definitely catch us before we find Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall!"

Ron sucked in a breath and immediately began looking around warily, as though eyes were watching them from everywhere. Goosebumps rose all over his body. "What do we do?"

"Get out of the castle!" Harry's gaze hardened. "Go to the secret base by the Black Lake—the Cottage!"

"The secret base?"

"Yes!" Harry clenched the seed in his hand and nodded forcefully. "Remember that Teacher in the cellar? He's very powerful. He can definitely protect us!"

Hermione frowned. "He's always given me a bad feeling."

"Hey, Hermione, he taught us quite a few amazing spells." Ron looked at her in disbelief. "And we all saw Dumbledore go to see him."

Hermione fell silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth. "Fine. On that basis, we'll do it."

She began making a plan for them. "Listen. Once we get out